Back in the day, Scarlett Johansson played a role in a flick that depicted the creation of Alfred Hitchcock’s spine-chilling masterpiece, Psycho. However, it appears that things got a bit too intense for Johansson when she had to recreate the iconic scene alongside seasoned actor Anthony Hopkins.
Scarlett Johansson’s Response to Anthony Hopkins’ Portrayal of Alfred Hitchcock
Actress Scarlett Johansson played the role of Janet Leigh in the 2012 movie Hitchcock, which focused on the making of the iconic film Psycho by renowned director Alfred Hitchcock. In an intense scene from the movie, actor Anthony Hopkins, who portrayed Hitchcock, rehearses the infamous shower sequence with Johansson. The actress had to summon a great deal of bravery to act in the scene alongside Hopkins.
In an interview with V Magazine, Johansson shared her experience shooting a scene with Anthony Hopkins as Hitchcock holding a 12-inch kitchen knife. Despite her bravery in facing the daunting task, Johansson admitted that Hopkins was still terrifying even though he was a “pussycat.” She attributed this fear to her childhood memories of watching Silence of the Lambs. Interestingly, the rest of the crew was also anxious about the scene, albeit for different reasons.
During the filming of the scene, there was a sense of unease among the crew due to the limited time they had and the presence of water. Everyone was worried about the actor getting wet and their modesty being compromised. However, Scarlett Johansson didn’t share these concerns and neither did Janet Leigh. “I don’t care about any of that stuff,” she declared. Interestingly, Johansson had already given a kind of audition for her role in Hitchcock before agreeing to star in it. The film’s director, Sacha Gervais, had arranged a meeting with the actor to discuss the project, which turned into a rehearsal of sorts.
According to Gervais, he was having a practice session with Tony Hopkins at his home for the movie’s screenplay. The purpose of Scarlett’s visit was to decide whether or not she would participate in the film. However, things took an unexpected turn when she arrived. She asked to see what they were working on and immediately took an interest in the peephole scene they were practicing. Without any hesitation, she suggested some changes and even started rehearsing with them. Eventually, Scarlett agreed to be a part of the project and informed Gervais within a week.
Scarlett Johansson sought out Jamie Lee Curtis’ approval before agreeing to take on the role in the film Hitchcock. Curtis is the daughter of Janet Leigh, who Johansson portrayed in the film. Johansson contacted Curtis to discuss the opportunity and was met with kindness from Curtis, who even shared stories and photos with her. Johansson expressed her admiration for Curtis and acknowledged the weight of playing someone as beloved as Janet. Curtis praised Johansson’s dedication to the role, noting that she approached it with a sense of seriousness and respect